Grain-meter



(No Model.)

J. B. MIUHENER & T. L. VARNS.

GRAIN METER.

Patented Jan. 13,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. MIOHENER AND TOBIAS L. VARNS, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

GRAIN-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,709, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed March 26, 1889. Serial No. 304,889. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that we, JAMES B. MICHENER and TOBIAS L. VABNS, citizens of the United States, residing at Kokomo, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 4 Grain-Meters; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in grain-meters, the object of the invention being, primarily, to provide an apparatus which shall be simple and durable in construction and effective and accurate in operation, and which will automatically measure, weigh, and register the number of bushels of grain (or number of pounds, as desired) as it is received from the discharge-spout of athrasher, corn-sheller,bin, elevator, separator, or other source, and. to discharge said grain after weighingintoa bag, wagon, or other receptacle.

Another object of this invention is to so construct and arrange the grain-wei ghin g box or receptacle that when one compartment is filled sufiicientiy to overcome the requisite weight it will quickly turn, bringing another compartment into position instantly, to be filled while the one already filled is discharging its contents, and whereby access to the filled compartment is at once on t off to prevent over-filling.

Another object of the invention is to so construct and arrange a delivering-spout for the grain-meter that the same may be made to discharge at either side of the machine at will.

The invention consistsin certain details of construction, and in the combination and ar- "angement of the several parts of the grainmeter, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

Figure 1 represents in perspective a grainmeter constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2, a detail in front view of a portion of the grain-meter, parts being broken away; Fig. 3, a detail in plan view of the scale-beam and bearings therefor.

The frame or casing A of the grain-meter is constructed in the shape of a square box having an opening in the bottom through which the grain is discharged after being weighed, and an opening in the top, into which a delivering-spout a is inserted, and through which the grain is introduced into the machine from the separator, thrasher, or other source, said frame or casing consisting of the box-like portion A, secured in a more or less elevated position between uprights or standards a which form the supports therefor.

Located within the walls of the casing Ais a grain-measuring box or receptacle B, which box will preferably be semicircular or circular in construction and divided by radiating partitions 2) into grain-compartments 11 here in shown as two in number, the box 13 being shown as semicircular. This compartmentbOX Bis pivoted centrally by means of trunnions b to one end a ofa scale-beam C, suitably grad uated,which scale-beamisfulcrumed at c on trunnions secured to the front and back boards of the box A. This scale-beam, as clearly shown Figs. 1 and 3, is U-shaped, and is looped or doubled at one end to form an elongated eye a at the graduated end, upon the outer arm of which loop is inovably secured the weight 0', the bearings for the trunnions b and c being formed in the inner arm. The outer arm of the loop 0 will have suitable graduating-marks thereon to determine the position of the weight when measuring different kinds of grain.

Pivoted below the bottom opening in the box A and below the line of discharge of the grain-measuring receptacle B is a two-way delivery-spout D, which spout is pivotally supported by suitable metal straps d, pivoted in turn to a cross-piece upon the standards a at each side of the machine. This spout D has a large opening d in its top centrally of a length sufficient to bring it beneath the opening in the box A in its either position, it also having offsets d in its either end at the terminus of said central opening to engage with the lower edge of the front and back boards of the box A to bring the closed or covered portion of the spout in close contact therewith when inclined to prevent the escape of grain.

Hinged to the front and rear sides of the machine are sheet-metal hoods E, which close the openings in the top of the spout, as shown in Fig. 1, and prevent the escape of grain and the entrance of dirt.

As will be noticed, the spout D when being changed in position so as to deliver from the opposite side, the delivering end is carried" forerably remote from the side to which it is.

- secured, and connecting these two bars F is a fiat sheet-metal strap F ,having aprojection f formed upon its outer edge near the center, which projection forms a catch to be engaged by thehook-shaped ends 9 of a catch-bar G, secured to the front of the compartment grainmeasuring receptacle B.

As shown in the drawings, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) the receptacle B is provided with but one catch-bar, which has its two ends bifurcated and hook-shaped and projected beyond the periphery of said receptacle in proper position to engage the spring-catch f during its movements. It is obvious, however, that two or more catch-bars or equivalents might be used-as, for instance, would be necessary if the receptacleB were'made circular instead of semicircular, as shown.

The system of spring-catch and spring-supports therefor herein shown and described obviates jarring strains upon the machine proper, both vertically and laterally, and se- 7 cures an elastic cushion for the grain-receptacle as it alters its position.

As will be noticed by reference to the drawings, Fig. 2, the pivotal point of the receptacle B, while it iscentral with relation to its width, is somewhat above the bottom thereof, which in the locked position of the receptacle, or in the position illustrated in the drawings, Fig. 2, brings the center of gravity at the right .of the pivotal point, and consequently when filled the same will turn to the right, bringing the left-hand compartment into position, and Vice versa, thus oscillating and bringing the two compartments alternately into proper position.

This construction of grain-measuring receptacle is'preferable; but should it be desired to employ a-circular receptacle the catch-bars and catches will be arranged somewhat differently, they being arranged to catch when the receptacle is rotated in one direction at one side and in the other at the other side of the said receptacle.

An elongated slot h is formed in the front and back board of the'box A, where the trunnions b engage the scale-beam to allow downward and upward movement of the said trunnions and pivoted receptacle.

Stops 71,2 h are secured to the side of the box A'to gage the movement of the scalebeam.

-It will be seen that requisite weight to change the position of the receptacle B may be quickly altered by sliding the weight at a greater or less distance from the fulcrum of the scale-beam.

Secured to the forward end; preferably, of the scale-beam is a compound lever h, having a hook-shaped end to engage a ratchettoothed wheel of an indicator H, secured tothe front of the machine, which indicator registers the number of bushels or pounds delivered. This indicator may be of any suitable construction, the main object being to operate it directly from the scale-beam.

We claim- 1. The combination, in a grain-meter, with the casing A, of the grain-measuring receptacle B,.divided into compartments mounted upon one portion of a scale-beam, the catchbars G therein, the spring-metal strap F, having a catch thereon and adapted to yield vertically, and the spring-metal supportingbars F therefor, adapted to yield horizontally and secured to the casing, substantially as described.

2. In a grain-meter, the combination, with the grain-receptacle B, of the U-shaped scalebeam 0, fulcrumed in the framework and having its forward end looped to form the elongated eye 0 with the sliding weight thereon, a jointed lever pivoted to the forward end of the loop 0 and a registering device secured to the frame, to be operated by said lever as the endof the scale-beam is raised or lowered by the weight of the grainreceptacle, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a grain-meter, the combination, with the casing and grain-receptacle, of two vertically-arranged and horizontally -yielding springs secured on each side of the casing, a horizontally-arranged and vertically-yielding spring-bar secured to said springs and having notches or projections thereon, and catches secured to the grain-receptacle to engage said spring-bar, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures Witnesses:

[FRANKLIN E. PooL, CHARLES R. HAZEL. 

